Ciprofibrate therapy in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and low high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol: greater reduction of non-HDL cholesterol in subjects with excess body weight (The CIPROAMLAT study)

Background

Microalbuminuria and subsequent progression to proteinuria and nephropathy is associated with increased oxidative stress, increased inflammatory cytokines and increased cardiovascular (CVD) risk. The common functional IL-6 -174G>C gene variant is also associated with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and CVD risk.

Methods

The aim of this study was to examine the association between the IL-6 -174G>C gene variant with plasma total antioxidant status (TAOS) in 552 subjects with type 2 diabetes in relation to urinary protein excretion.

Results

In subjects free from CVD, there was a significant interaction between urinary protein excretion (normoalbuminuria/ microalbuminuria/proteinuria) and the -174C allele (compared to -174GG) in determining plasma TAOS (p value for interaction = 0.03). In the -174C allele carriers there was a significant association between plasma TAOS and urinary protein excretion: normalbuminuria v microalbuminuria v proteinuria: 44.30% ± 11.32 vs. 39.74% ± 14.83 vs. 37.93% ± 16.42, ANOVA p = 0.025. In those with CVD, no interaction or association was observed with the -174C allele (p = 0.246).

Conclusion

The IL-6 -174G>C gene variant is associated with differences in plasma oxidative stress in response to altered protein excretion in subjects with type 2 diabetes.     

Effects of Inoculation with PGPR Bacillus and Pisolithus tinctorius on Pinus pinea L. Growth,Bacterial rhizosphere Colonization,and Mycorrhizal Infection

The effect of co-inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius and a PGPR belonging to the genus Bacillus (Bacillus licheniformis CECT 5106 and Bacillus pumilus CECT 5105) in enhancing growth of Pinus pinea plants and the changes that occurred in rhizosphere microbial communities and the degree of mycorrhization were evaluated. Both bacterial strains of Bacillus promote the growth of Pinus pinea seedlings, but this biological effect does not imply a synergic effect with mycorrhizal infection. However, the positive response to mycorrhiza in a longer-term experiment it could be expected. The introduction of both inocula causes an lateration in the microbial rhizosphere composition, despite the low levels of inocula that were found at the end of the assay.     

Microevolutionary analysis of the nematode genus Pristionchus suggests a recent evolution of redundant developmental mechanisms during vulva formation

SUMMARY To identify the mechanisms by which molecular variation is introduced into developmental systems, microevolutionary approaches to evolutionary developmental biology have to be taken. Here, we describe the molecular and developmental characterization of laboratory strains of the nematode genus Pristionchus , which lays a foundation for a microevolutionary analysis of vulva development. We describe 13 laboratory strains of the Pristionchus genus that are derived from natural isolates from around the world. Mating experiments and ITS sequence analysis indicated that these 13 strains represent four different species: the gonochoristic species P. lheritieri and three hermaphroditic species, P. pacificus , P. maupasi , and an as yet undescribed species Pristionchus sp., respectively. P. pacificus is represented by five different strains isolated from California, Washington, Hawaii, Ontario, and Poland. Developmental differences during vulva formation are observed between strains from different species but also between strains of P. pacificus , like the strains from California and Poland. In particular, redundant developmental mechanisms present during vulva formation in P. pacificus var. California are absent in other strains. Amplified restriction fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses of the P. pacificus strains revealed that the American strains are highly polymorphic. In contrast, the developmentally distinct strain from Poland is identical to the Californian strain, suggesting that the developmental differences rely on a small number of changes in developmental control genes rather than the accumulation of changes at multiple loci.     

Meiotic chromosome missegregation during apyrene meiosis in the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar,is preceded by an aberrant prophase I

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, produces two structurally and genetically distinct types of spermatozoa. The eupyrene spermatozoa are genetically haploid and structurally typical. The apyrene spermatozoa are anucleate and structurally different from eupyrene spermatozoa. To understand further the events contributing to meiotic chromosome missegregation in apyrene spermatocytes, we examined the progression of meiosis in these cells with respect to their eupyrene counterparts. Chromosomal bouquet formation and fusion of nucleolar organizing regions are disrupted in apyrene nuclei. In addition, the chromatin of apyrene nuclei is prematurely and extremely condensed compared with that of eupyrene nuclei. An antibody to the conserved synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3) labeled eupyrene pachytene chromosomes, but not apyrene pachytene chromosomes. In addition, apyrene meiotic spindles are missing a subset of microtubules, which likely include kinetochore microtubules. Because the condensation behavior of meiotic chromatin in apyrene spermatocytes deviates from that of eupyrene spermatocytes, we examined the appearance and distribution of the phosphorylated form of histone H3, but no significant differences in histone H3 phosphorylation were found between apyrene and eupyrene spermatocytes. We argue that because a pachytene checkpoint is not initiated in apyrene spermatocytes, this system may provide a way to understand better the underlying biochemical connections between pairing, recombination, synapsis, kinetochore assembly and segregation of chromosomes during meiosis in a higher eukaryote.     

Molecular analysis of a novel family of complex glycoinositolphosphoryl ceramides from Cryptococcus neoformans: structural differences between encapsulated and acapsular yeast forms

Complex glycoinositolphosphoryl ceramides (GIPCs) have been purified from a pathogenic encapsulated wild-type (WT) strain of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans and from an acapsular mutant (Cap67). The structures of the GIPCs were determined by a combination of tandem mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and chemical degradation. The main GIPC from the WT strain had the structure Manp(alpha1-3)[Xylp(beta1-2)] Manp(alpha1-4)Galp(beta1-6)Manp(alpha1-2)Ins-1-phosphoryl ceramide (GIPC A), whereas the compounds from the acapsular mutant were more heterogeneous in their glycan chains, and variants with Manp(alpha1-6) (GIPC B), Manp(alpha1-6) Manp(alpha1-6) (GIPC C), and Manp(alpha1-2)Manp(alpha1-6)Manp(alpha1-6) (GIPC D) substituents linked to the nonreducing terminal mannose residue found in the WT GIPC A were abundant. The ceramide moieties of C. neoformans GIPCs were composed of a C(18) phytosphingosine long-chain base mainly N-acylated with 2-hydroxy-tetracosanoic acid in the WT GIPC while in the acapsular Cap67 mutant GIPCs, as well as 2-hydroxy-tetracosanoic acid, the unusual 2,3-dihydroxy-tetracosanoic acid was characterized. In addition, structural analysis revealed that the amount of GIPC in the WT cells was fourfold less of that in the acapsular mutant.     

Taxonomic characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haloferax</Emphasis> sp. ("<Emphasis Type="Italic">H. alicantei</Emphasis>") strain Aa 2.2: description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haloferax lucentensis</Emphasis> sp. nov.

An extremely halophilic archaeon, previously named as Haloferax sp. strain Aa 2.2 or "Haloferax alicantei" that has been extensively used for genetic studies with halobacteria, was taxonomically characterized by using phenotypic tests (including morphological, physiological, biochemical and nutritional features), DNA-DNA hybridization and 16S rRNA sequence phylogenetic analysis. This organism was isolated in 1986 by Torreblanca et al. from a pond of a Spanish saltern located in Alicante. The cells were pleomorphic, Gram negative and grew optimally at 25% NaCl. The polar lipid composition was similar to that of species of the genus Haloferax. The DNA G+C content of this strain was 64.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence comparison confirmed that this archaeon is a member of the genus Haloferax and was most closely related to Haloferax volcanii. DNA-DNA hybridization between strain Aa 2.2 and the type strain of all named species of the genus Haloferax revealed low levels of relatedness (25-2%), supporting the placement of this organism in a new species. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics, molecular data and phylogenetic analysis we propose to name strain Aa 2.2 as a new species, Haloferax lucentensis sp. nov. The type strain is Aa 2.2 (=JCM 9276=NCIMB 13854=CIP 107410=DSM 14919=CECT 5871=CCM 7023).     

Systemic induction of the biosynthesis of terpenic compounds in Digitalis lanata

A bacterial screening was carried out in the rhizosphere of two Digitalis species, D. thapsi and D. parviflora, both at the vegetative stage and at flowering. A total of 480 isolates were characterised at genus level, Bacillus being the dominant genera in all cases. Fifty percent of the Bacillus strains isolated from each species were analysed by PCR-RAPDs. At 85% similarity, 12 groups separated for D. thapsi and 18 for D. parviflora. One strain of each group was selected for biological assay on D. lanata, evaluating growth promotion and cardenolide content in leaves after inoculation performed in the root system. The plant parameters evaluated were leaf surface area, shoot and root dry weight and leaf number. Lanatoside C content was evaluated by HPLC. Only 17 strains caused significant increases in at least one of the parameters evaluated. The most striking result was that some strains promoted growth and increased cardenolide content at the same time. This effect was detected on leaves while inoculation was carried out on roots. Interestingly, these two parameters are not enhanced simultaneously under regular conditions in pot or in tissue cultures.     

Trace detection of hydroxyl radicals during the redox cycling of low concentrations of diaziquone: a new approach

Quantifying oxygen radicals that arise during the redox cycling of quinone-containing anticancer agents such as diaziquone (AZQ) has been difficult, as has been their detection at low drug concentrations. This is due to the fact that EPR spin trapping, the method most often used for *OH detection, requires the use of high drug concentrations. Using a new highly sensitive technique that employs a fluorescamine-derivatized nitroxide, we show that low levels of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (4.25 microg/ml) catalyze the production of hydroxyl radicals at very low, clinically relevant AZQ concentrations. Thus, at this enzyme concentration, we were able to detect a rate of 0.10 nM s(-1) hydroxyl radical production by 5 microM AZQ, a clinically relevant concentration. The Michaelis-Menten constants for AZQ-mediated hydroxyl radical production are: K(M) = 10.7 +/- 1.4 microM, and V(max) = 5.2 +/- 0.9 x 10(-8) M s(-1) (mg protein)(-1). Experiments employing catalase, superoxide dismutase, and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, confirm the previously deduced conclusions from high drug concentrations, that is, that at low concentrations, AZQ acts to shuttle reducing equivalents from the enzyme to oxygen, thus generating the redox cycle. The data presented here suggest that the levels and locations of redox active metal ions may be the principal controlling factor in the pathway of AZQ activity that involves oxidative stress.